I return to talk about action figures. Yep.

Well, I guess I am down to posting only sporadically these days. Something to do with moving house, I suppose.

Anyway, if you go to the DC Direct site, you'll see that they've got something new coming out next year--then-and-now two-pack action figures. You get two of the same character, as depicted at the start of their career and as they appear today. They've got Nightwing, Catwoman, Joker and Batman on the list.

And while I don't particularly need Nightwing in his first costume, and while the Joker is drawn in so many ways that it's hard to be sure which is the original and which the current version, I am sorely tempted by both the Batman and the Catwoman. Particularly the Batman. Picture an action figure of first-appearance Batman. No, wait, you don't have to picture it, you can go to the site and see it. Awesome.

As for the Catwoman, I like the costuming but not so sure about the figures themselves.

Still, clever idea, and a series I hope continues on for a while.

Where I've been

Yes, I know, I've been gone. Been in the process of buying a house, which is somehow distracting. :)

Anyway, so the comics came last week and I've read about half of them. And I really think I'm going to switch just about everything to trades (other than Secret Six and possibly Captain America). This is, in part, a space issue. The whole packing thing? Has made it oh-so-clear that trades are just easier to deal with. Easier to organize, easier to find when you want them. And the 15 longboxes and handful of shortboxes that are going into the attic? Realistically, I know I won't be going through them often. Trades are the way to go from now on.

As for the action figures? Selective (and possibly seasonal) displays. You know, Green Lantern characters for Christmas, Batman and company for Halloween, that sort of thing. :) But there's just not room for all of them. Anywhere. I still love 'em, but will have to love them not all at the same time.

Now, going to go read my new Justice League International Volume Two. It's a lot of fun to read apart from so much of the text being a bit illegible--I don't know whether that's a poor print job or just the font used back then, but my old eyes don't much like it.

Lantern Love [Spoilers for GLC if you don't read previews]

So, there's a preview up of Green Lantern Corps 39.

Remember not long ago, when Natu and Kyle encountered that Star Sapphire who had them peer into her gem to see who their "true love" was, and they discovered that the feeling was mutual, and they ran off to have an illicit (because GLs are no longer allowed to date) affair that could get them both thrown out of the Corps?

And while I find the idea of "true love" irksome--I think it's both a fallacy and potentially just a very bad thing, considering the number of folks who will stick with a bad boy/girlfriend because they think that person is their "soulmate"--at least that provided a context for the relationship forming under those circumstances. It also provided a context for Kyle--who sometimes seems to have bought into his own "kiss of death" image--being willing to do so at all.

However.

In this preview, Kyle admits to Guy that he didn't really see Natu in the gem. He saw Jade. He lied to Natu. I'm not sure why--because he does like her and is attracted to her, and Jade isn't exactly available? Because he didn't want her to feel bad or be embarrassed that she saw him in the gem? Because it just seemed like a good idea at the time? Who knows?

What it does indicate is that Kyle is kind of an ass.

If he'd told the truth to Natu, telling her that no, he didn't see her in the gem...well, she might have been embarrassed, might even have felt a bit hurt, but she wouldn't have gotten into a relationship with him under false pretences and against her better judgment.

I'm thinking he's in for a well-deserved verbal beatdown when Natu finds out what's up.

Oh, and the "true love" thing? I can't really imagine that it would have been Jade he saw, either if there's truth behind it or if it's (as I think likely) his own perceptions/projections that he saw in the gem.

In either case, it ought to be Alex.

However, since I don't think Alex is getting a Black Lantern ring, making it Jade makes some narrative sense. But it's still wrong.

A public service announcement

I've just learned that DC Universe Classics is making a Katma Tui action figure. (Also a John Stewart action figure, but DC Direct has one of those coming out also.) You can pre-order it right now. Which I just did.

Katma Tui, Arisia...all we need now is Soranik Natu and I'll be...well, I'll be very happy. :)

Coolness!

I have a Black Lantern ring!

Now, both the kids want it. And if I had two, they could have them. But I only have one. So in the interest of household peace, I will keep it for myself.

Yep, that's why.

Arisia!

Just saw this in the latest DC previews:

BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 3 ACTION FIGURES

BLACKEST NIGHT continues to astonish as DC Direct introduces the third series of action figures based on this storyline!

Don’t get caught without these new action figures, including Aquaman, the third member of the Black Lanterns; Arisia, the Green Lantern charged with protecting Earth; Larfleeze, the only living member of the avaricious Orange Lantern Corps, who comes with the slain – and slavish – Glomulus; and Star Sapphire of the Zamorans, whose members battle using the violet power of love.

All four figures feature multiple points of articulation and include a display base. Larfleeze, Arisia and Star Sapphire also come with lantern accessories.

An Arisia figure! Hot damn!

They've also got a Star Sapphire figure in this set, but I've already got one and really don't think I need two of 'em.

Legion costume thoughts

I've been spending my online time today looking at stuff about the Legion of Superheroes. You know, in preparation for starting to read about them again.

And of course I've been reading some about the history of the title.

I wasn't around when they made their first appearance. And I only read them very occasionally in the sixties (seeing as how the sixties were over before I was nine). But during the seventies, I became quite a fan.

And I remember when the team got their new costumes. The Cockrum-designed ones. When Saturn Girl went from a tunic and tights to a pink swimsuit, when Element Lad changed his suit from pink to green, when Phantom Girl put on the bell-bottomed jumpsuit with strategically-placed cutouts. In general, the new outfits were brighter and/or showed more skin than the old ones.

And I was reading today about the change, folks looking back, saying that many of the women's new outfits were problematic--that Saturn Girl's new suit was uncharacteristically revealing, Princess Projectra's not particularly dignified (the neckline basically dipped to her navel and was held together with lacing). And I can kind of see all that now (certainly the outfits they put on Night Girl and Laurel Kent would have been gravitationally challenging).

But at the time, as a kid, I just thought they were pretty and futuristic. The minidresses, tunics and tights seemed so old-fashioned. The hair-dos did't help--I remember being convinced that Light Lass must have been much, much older than her brother because of her hair (which reminded me a bit of Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke). The new outfits came with new hairstyles, for both male and female Legionnaires (Timber Wolf, anyone?). And to me, everyone just looked so much more modern--so much more as if they could have existed in the future. Any era's depiction of future times seems to be built off of some extreme contemporary fashion (Saturn Girl's Farrah hair was a good example of this!)--and the original Legion costumes, to 1970s kids, just looked dated.

Now, of course, the old tunic-and-tights look is charmingly retro. Even Phantom Girl's flares are probably in that category. As for Imra's pink swimsuit? Maybe not so much.

There's a waste of an afternoon.

So the husband has been watching coverage of the comic con on TV today, and I've been doing some internet stuff and looking up if anything interesting comes on (which, really, it hasn't).

He's been watching for several hours.

Hours, and JUST NOW they've announced that they'll be talking about actual comic books for a little while. At some point.

Remind me never to go to a comic convention, because I'm just not seeing a point to it.

Legion question (might have spoilers, not sure)

So, although I'm not getting Legion of Three Worlds (I plan to pick up the trade) I have kind of been keeping an eye on what's going on via the internet.

So. Did I misread something, or is the original Legion (the one that grew up) going to be the regular DC universe Legion again?

Because if that's so, I am so getting that book. It's going on my pull list so fast it'll make heads spin.

I see reading comics in my future

I think we've gotten through all the comics my brother gave the kids, and it comes to...

...about 8 1/2 longboxes full.

Yep.

Question for the 90s-aware

So, speaking of 90s comics...

...my brother handed down a bunch of his old comics to the girls, and I've been putting them in longboxes (haven't been sorting them as well as I might, but oh well). And all those 90s years I'd quit buying comics? Well, he didn't.

So...did Marvel put out any comics in the 90s that didn't feature Wolverine in some way? Like, at all?

I dream of comics again

Well, I thought it was going to be another comic-related dream.

Then Tony Stark turned into Michael Jackson.

I've got to stop reading non-comic entertainment news.

I dream of comics

Well, that was longer than I meant to go between updates. Sorry 'bout that.

I really had an odd comic-related dream last night. In the dream, for some reason I hadn't been able to get my comics for a few months, and so I went to a store to stock up. I was happily picking up my comics, adding new titles and so forth, when I noticed that in the time since I'd last gotten comics, a new retro had made an appearance--yes, the "in" thing had become comic books in the style of the 1990s.

I woke up then, so am not sure whether I bought them or not.

I definitely want.

I just ordered comics, and I totally ordered this.

It's a lot more muscular than Kyle Rayner should ever be, but it is an action figure with his original costume, which I've been wanting for ages.

So, yay!

Cartoons?

Okay, so this isn't exactly comic book-related, but...

Animated Shorts: CN Gets "Real" As Fate of "Chowder" Up In Air.

So I'm reading the article aloud to the kids. When I get to the part where they're talking about the live-action shows on Cartoon Network, both girls say:

"They've already got three."

I did not know this because, as the ten-year-old then said:

"But I don't watch any of those."

She then said:

"I don't understand--it's called Cartoon Network!"

By the way, she absolutely loves Chowder. (And I don't mind watching it myself, it's a fun show with a lot of humor.) Lately, Chowder and Flapjack are her favorite CN offerings.

So, if my two kids (ten and fourteen, respectively) are any example, the more live action there is on Cartoon Network, the fewer actual kids will be watching it.

It's deja vu all over again!

Oh, you have got to be kidding.

Marvel Introduces Groundbreaking Foilogram Covers

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...well, you know.

Yeah, I'm old

Came across this blog post today:

Comic Book Crimes of Fashion: Those Avengers Jackets

This is actually one of my favorite Avengers eras, but not at all because of the jackets. :)

More linkage

Nice concise article up on Captain America: Reborn.

Linkage

Interesting link at Comic Book Resources about the past and current direction(s) of Batman.

Um...eek?

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Sigh.

Question for the comic-storage knowledgable

So, if I put my comic longboxes in a dry but unheated attic, are the comics going to be all right?

Ah, so that's what they did

So when I saw the solicit for the new Young Allies one-shot, featuring a new story, I had to wonder what they'd do with the cast.

After all, the original 1940s-era Young Allies were, well, not exactly formed with 21st-century sensibilities in mind:

The group started out under the name "Sentinels of Liberty". They consisted of Bucky Barnes (Captain America's sidekick) and four of his friends: Knuckles (aka Percival Aloysius O'Toole), Jeff (Jefferson Worthing Sandervilt), Tubby (Henry Tinkle) and Whitewash Jones (who, being merely the requisite black stereotype, didn't have a fancy name like the others). (Toonopedia: http://www.toonopedia.com/ynallies.htm)

The current version has them as Pat O'Toole, Washington Carver Jones ("Wash" to his friends), Geoffrey Worthington Vandergill (connecting him with the Marvel-Universe Worthingtons?), and Henry Tinkelbaum. Some of the changes make sense, others seem arbitrary, and according to the oomic it was the original publisher who changed the names, so that's a nod to Golden Age fans.

It's a rather sweet story, actually. Worth a read.

Bat-commentary - Red Robin 1

Holy crap, when did Tim start on the steroids? You don't get extra muscles just because it's a splash page...

Damian is such an ass (but an entertaining one).

I'm kind of glad that Tim's belief that Bruce Wayne is still alive is not based on anything but hope. It means that his search is irrational, but I think that's all right, that's realistic under the circumstances.

Kind of amused that Tim's just annoyed about all the crimefighting he's doing in Europe. :)

Bat-commentary - Batman 687

This book really is going to have a different tone from Batman and Robin, isn't it? I expect I'll be reading B&R first, because it strikes me as more of a fun read, but I do plan to keep getting this one, at least for a while.

I think the treatment of Dick's hesitation in taking on the cowl was presented well. I'm not a huge Dick Grayson fan, but he is growing on me.

Actually I'm considering getting the trade. Because I'm considering switching just about all of my books to "waiting for the trade" status. But not quite yet.

Bat-commentary - Streets of Gotham 1

This may turn out to be one of my favorites among the new Bat-books, surprisingly. I really want to know what happens next issue now!

As for the secondary feature, I really don't know much about Manhunter other than what I've seen of her in Birds of Prey, but this looks all right.

Bat-commentary - Batman and Robin 1

Um, holy crap--the villain here is absolutely chilling.

That last page pretty much drove out anything else I had to say about this book. Ew.

Bat-commentary - Gotham City Sirens 1

Decent read featuring two of my favorites (and I like Catwoman well enough, too). Harley is practically perfect, and Ivy isn't bad either. Actually, this would even be a decent intro to both characters for a new reader in that their dynamic is made clear very quickly.

I also got a huge kick out of the new villain trying to make a name for himself. Presumably this is the last we see of Boneblaster.

Also got a chuckle out of "The Broker." Not that I've ever really wondered where supervillains get their nifty hideouts, but this was still a fun bit.

One to keep getting.

Bat-commentary - Detective 854

I will confess it: although I liked Batwoman from the start, I probably mostly liked her for her design. You know, because we really didn't have a lot of other info about her other than her connection with Renee Montoya.

Now, with the revamped Batwoman, that's changed.

As in, I like her more now.

I still like her design--again, I like it more with the awesome new boots with the grippy soles.

I like it that her "Alfred" is her father; they seem to have a good relationship, which is also a plus in this world of superheroes who don't get along with their parents.

Decent story, intriguing, creepy villain, good read.

The Question feature also shows some promise.

This one is a keep-getting-it.

Still reading, will post...soon.

Still reading those Nightwing trades! And maybe it's the mix I picked up, but I am not finding that things are made more clear by reading them so far.

Too busy!

Can't write, am in the middle of reading a stack of Nightwing trades.

Namor is my favorite!

The newest Dark Avengers preview has, in fact, a very, very nice Namor moment.

Doom wishes he could be that cool.

I want this, but somehow I don't think it's meant for me

I'm kind of looking forward to the upcoming Psylocke mini.

I liked the original conception of Psylocke a lot. I was less fond of the current design, not because of the design itself but because of the personality shift that seemed to follow. (Not that that wouldn't be an unreasonable response to trauma...)

However, the mini will not be the original Psylocke:

And while some fans may hold allegiance to the character's original form, Yost and editor Daniel Ketchum agreed that Fraction and Land's use of the Asian version made the most sense. "She definitely is going back to her ninja assassin look," he said, citing J. Scott Campbell's variant for "Uncanny #510" as a prime example of Psylocke. "We tend to think of that as what people identify as the definitive Psylocke. I still kind of like the light pink butterfly Psylocke here and there, but I think for most modern readers Psylocke is that person.

which I suppose (along with the choice of artist) indicates the intended audience for the book. :)

Of course these days I don't read the X-books. And while I retain a fondness for Betsy, I don't like her nearly well enough to get back into that mess.

But I will probably get the mini, probably wait until the trade.

Saw this up for an upcoming mini about the Rikki Barnes character, who is apparently going by the name of "Nomad," which is kind of neat.

I'll wait for the trade on this one, I think, but I will get it.

Captain America thoughts

I've been seeing all this hype about Captain America: Rebirth. Which, I like Captain America, and likely would have gotten this anyway, so fine. I'm actually not convinced that it is in fact the return of Steve Rogers that's being heralded (and if it isn't, I anticipate a great deal of fan whining).

If it is, that's cool. I like Steve Rogers and have missed seeing him around. And to be honest, while I'm sure that the intention is that "Dark Reign" is at least in part supposed to be what happens to the Marvel Universe when Captain America is gone, I'm really not seeing that in the comics I'm reading. Although I'm not intrigued enough by Dark Reign that I'll be at all sad to see it go, you know?

And while I've seen concern elsewhere about what will happen to Bucky Barnes, the current Captain America, when the "real" Cap returns...to be honest, while I love the title and what's been done with the character, I think that the interesting part of Bucky becoming Cap has pretty much been done now. He's gained some comfort in the role and some acceptance by the hero community. The transition is nearly over.

But as far as just seeing Captain America in action every month, really, I'd rather see Steve.

And I'd rather see Bucky as himself.

More stuff to carry home.

We're on our annual vacation now, and as usual we took an afternoon to visit all the reasonably-local comic shops we could find in the phone book. We had a list of six.

Two were closed. By which I mean, there were no longer comic shops at those addresses--the stores are gone.

The others were lovely.

One where I found a Deathstroke action figure (on sale!).

One where I found a copy of the Secret Six mini in trade form, and mumblemumble different Nightwing trades. The fourteen-year-old found an action figure of the Joker from (I think) Killing Joke--it's the one where he's in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and she's been admiring it from afar for a while now.

One where I picked up the trade of Brubaker's Catwoman.

And one where I found some minimates for the ten-year-old. (She hasn't seen them yet, she's been playing Rock Band with her cousin.)

All good.

No title today, I'm too tired to think!

You know, I just realized--yesterday I mentioned that Secret Six had supplanted Captain America as my favorite title, the one I always read first when the Big Box O Comics arrives.

But I'm not sure whether that means that I'm enjoying Secret Six a little bit more these days, or enjoying Captain America a little bit less these days. SS has been consistently good from the onset. CA has as well, although I think that #50 and #600 have provided a sort of lull. But I think it's actually more the latter than the former.

I think it's possible that I'm finding BuckyCap a little less interesting now that he's more of a part of the established superhero community. That's weird, isn't it?

I think it is official

My favorite comic book is now Secret Six.

This means that it has taken over the number one slot occupied by Captain America for the last several years.

They're not at all similar, as comics go, but they do have one thing in common: the ability to get me to read one, then spend the next month wondering what's going to happen next.

Do not want

You know, I know that every comic book character is somebody's favorite. And I know that "favorite" is a most subjective term.

But you know, I never really understood the need for the new Justice League of America title to start out with a focus on the Red Tornado. I don't dislike the guy, but he kind of leaves me cold. (Perhaps because I grew up reading about the Vision in the Avengers who IMO had the same routine only did it far more compellingly. Personal opinion, of course.) So, while there are a number of reasons why I didn't keep getting the JLA book, one of them was, in fact, that the first story arc featured someone I have always found dull as dust.

But, you know, different tastes.

However, I completely fail to see the need for a Red Tornado mini. Except that it's easier for the non-fan to avoid, which is a plus. :)

Here she is...

Preview up for the Miss America Special.

I first encountered Miss America in, I think, the 1970s, when her husband the Whizzer appeared in the Avengers comic. At the time the two of them were being presented as possible parents for Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch; Miss America was no longer alive at that point, and the Whizzer was an old man, and it turned out that they had no relation to Wanda and Pietro at all. One thing I recall thinking was neat about her was that she wore glasses--while in costume! That was something you never saw back then.

There's something I'm wondering about, though--although the cover for this comic is excellent, very much in the spirit of the war-era Timely titles, why is the Miss America pictured on it a glasses-less blonde? The Miss America in the story looks as she should, what's with the cover?

Wondering what I'll be buying a year from now

This preview of Streets of Gotham looks decent.

I'm not sure how long this premise will support an ongoing title, though.

And never say maybe, because THIS happens.

Are Marvel divas just fanboy fantasies?

Still thinking of trying this one, but not really expecting a lot at this point.

Never say never, because THIS happens

You know, I'd seen the first mention of an upcoming Magog title from DC, and I'd pretty much figured it was something I'd never have to worry about spending money on.

And maybe that's still true.

But upon hearing that Keith Giffen is the writer, I might have to at least give it a look. No promises, mind you, but now it's a "hey, I'll think about it" instead of a "what, are you kidding?"

Note to self

Pick up a copy of R.E.B.E.L.S. when it comes out in trade.

Obviously

I'm going to be getting the Batman and Robin title, although I haven't seen it yet (damn you, monthly comic book delivery!), but I hadn't been all that excited about it.

This preview of the cover to #4, however, looks potentially interesting.

The obvious assumption is that this "New Red Hood" is Jason Todd. Now, I was already burned once by trying to out-clever the solicitations and guessing that the third Batman in BftC couldn't be him because it was too obvious, so I won't say that this time. But, you know, it really is too obvious. :)

Super-family values

You know, this would actually be okay!

I haven't read the Isaiah Bradley Cap story yet, but I'm intrigued by the possibility of rejuvenating him--not because we need another Captain America (although, you know, the more the merrier I guess), but because I'd love to see him interact with the Young Avengers and his grandson, Patriot, who has grown up with only stories of his grandfather's heroism. It'd be awesome to see them working together, even in a one-shot.

In which I discover how typical I am

Interesting article up at Comic Book Resources about the cancellation of Captain Britain and MI-13.

And, in reading it, I had to agree with something the article said: Captain Britain, the character, tends to be a bit dull. An effort was made in this series to provide him a weak area--having his power dependent on confidence (making him the "Little Superhero That Could," I suppose)--which I think had potential but isn't really the most fascinating of fatal flaws.

But even at that, Brian Braddock came off as a touch thick, and Cornell might've been better served by overtly demonstrating why Captain Britain – all the characters, really – were worthy of special attention this time around. At minimum, if you're going to name a book after someone he ought at least be presented as the central figure.

And I have to admit that I wouldn't buy a Captain Britain title if he was the only one in the book. Possibly not even if he was just the main focus of the book. (Nothing against British heroes, I'd buy a Union Jack book in a flash!) The supporting cast was what got me throwing my cash at them.

Just one problem that's rarely mentioned: as a rule, superhero fans hate magic.

I have to admit that this, too, probably applies to me. I enjoyed the stories in CB&MI13, but at the back of my mind there was always this sense that this was all right, but I'd be glad when something more mundane was happening in the book. :) I don't mind magic in my comic books, but I don't like comic books about magic, if you see what I mean. I always thought it was just me. Apparently not--apparently I'm just part of some greater trend (sigh).

So who says comics aren't expensive?

This preview of the Marvel Superhero Squad game is going to force me to get a Wii, isn't it?

Further grumbling about canceled comic books

Just read the most recent Captain Britain and MI-13, and wanted to reiterate my disappointment in Marvel for canceling this book. You can put out and maintain four damn Avengers titles (which, admittedly, I also buy) but you can't let us have this one wonderful, charming little book?

I'll really miss seeing Spitfire on a regular basis.

How. Cool. Is this?

Imagine my thrilled-ness to see this: The Torch, a new mini featuring original Human Torch Jim Hammond.

I've had a great fondness for the original Torch ever since I was a teenager reading The Invaders, where he soon became one of my favorite parts of that book. I also enjoyed him in the more recent New Invaders, and thought it was a great loss when they killed him off there.

So yeah, that's the good news of the day around here!

Astonishing reaction from Brainfreeze

Just read Captain America 50.

And I know this is only because it was an anniversary issue, which tend to be content-free.

But, for the first time ever, a Brubaker Cap book makes me go "meh."

Oh, but there was Hembeck! That alone made it worth buying!

Hoping for better next month. Oh, wait, next month is #600. Hoping for better in two months.

My favorite comic--it really is that simple.

You know, I can talk a lot about what comics I enjoy, what comics I don't, what comics are on thin ice when it comes to staying on my pull list.

But what it comes down to is this.

When the new Big Box O' Comics has arrived and I only have a few minutes to read one of them, which one do I pick?

And the answer to that question is Secret Six.

More Batwoman

There's an article up at Newsarama about Batwoman's new look in Detective Comics.

Actually, I always kind of liked the character and her look, but getting rid of the high heels is a definite plus.

Coolness!

The preview is up for the Young Allies book.

Looks decent!

Latest Iron Man cartoon

So I watched the new Iron Man cartoon again last night, the one with teen Tony, Rhodey and Pepper. They introduced a new character--Obadiah Stane's daughter, Whitney. Which is cool, she seems to have decent character potential.

However, the only "Whitney" I know of from the Iron Man comics, is Whitney Frost, aka Madam Masque. I know the cartoon plays around a lot with resources available from the comics, but I also get the sense that maybe I shouldn't get too attached to Whitney as an Iron Man ally.

Why?

Just...why?

Waiting for the UPS man

My comics are on their way, hooray!

Here's the thing about getting your comics once a month

You want them to send them, but you kind of don't want them to send them, because you also want as many comics in the box as possible.

Well, this box has CA 50 (which looks kind of lame from the previews, but we'll see) and BftC 3, so I'm good.

It's a good time to be a Cap fan.

There's a preview of Captain America 600 up at Newsarama.

It's just art, no text, but it looks like a typical "landmark issue" kind of comic, possibly not driving the main storyline much if at all.

Of course I want it anyway. :)

This is interesting

I don't read the funnies (get my news from the internet these days) but I find this interesting.

Newspaper Spider-Man is still married.

I find it interesting because it points to the difference between a newspaper comic strip audience and a comic book audience, or more specifically, to the relationship creators have with either. Clearly, newspaper audiences have more power in that relationship. My guess would be that this has to do with the fact that newspaper fans complain to the newspapers, and the newspapers complain to Marvel, and a complaint from a newspaper carries more weight than a complaint from an individual reader--it's a bigger potential cost. If Jane Comic-book-fan decides to stop picking up a title, it's not a huge deal. If the Daily Bugle decides to drop the strip (and why is the Bugle running a Spider-Man strip anyway?), that's quite a loss of revenue.

And people who read the newspaper Spider-Man, on the whole, aren't buying the paper just in order to read Spider-Man. They are casual readers. They are less willing to do the work of adjusting to the new situation. If established continuity is messed with too much, they'll just stop reading, because they don't care.

Contrast this with the comic book reader, who cares very much, and who is far less likely to successfully complete a boycott because he or she just can't go without a fix for that long.

Just curious

So which comes first, timeline-wise, Trinity or the death of Batman? I'm guessing the former, but since (real-time-wise) the latter was ages and the former is still going on, I'm not entirely clear on it.

You know, Tarantino movies can jump around in time because a movie is a discrete unit. You can work out what's up. An entire comic line, it gets confusing.

Madam Masque

So the recent appearances of Madam Masque in New Avengers got me thinking.

I remember her from old Iron Man comics, where--first as the beautiful and criminal Whitney Frost, and then as Madam Masque--she wasn't a half-bad villain. Her outfit was striking. Her intelligence was impressive. Her ruthlessness was entertaining. There was a point where she had an actual relationship with Tony Stark (not that that's much of a feat), complete with the usual angst and betrayal. Haven't seen her in a while, and hope she's used well this time around.

But you know? She's pretty much got the same shtick as Dr. Doom. Scarred villain with a mask, and some sense that their power-hunger is exacerbated by their perceived loss of beauty and subsequent lack of connection to the world. (Actually I always kind of liked the version of Doom where the extent of his injury was a small, barely noticeable scar--that it was only his own perception that he was hideously deformed, because he was no longer "perfect"--but I think that interpretation has long gone by the wayside.)

Why is it that it is so much more central to her identity? I mean, there's a lot more to Doom than his scarring. But with Madam Masque, once that happened, that seemed to become pretty much her entire backstory. And she had so much more in addition to that--she was a villain before her injury, after all.

Maybe a last thought on BftC

There's an interview up with Tony Daniel that explains some of why Battle for the Cowl was written as it was.

Doesn't necessarily make it make sense, but explains it.

In which I once again talk about something I haven't read yet. (Spoilers for BftC3)

The spoiler warning is for those, unlike myself, who avoid spoilers.

I won't be seeing it for weeks, so of course I had to read all the talk I could find on Battle for the Cowl 3.

The identity of the Batman-to-be is not surprising.

The identity of the Robin-to-be is even less surprising.

What is a little surprising, but pleasantly so? That apparently someone is thinking about doing something interesting with Jason Todd, in that they seem to be trying to make him more sympathetic. (Unfortunately this seems likely to be taking the form of adding some sort of abuse to his childhood, but it's comics, that's what they do.) This probably means that they're hoping to redeem him to some extent. I say this because it seems like they want him to have a background that's so bad that, having suffered through it, he could be forgiven anything.

I'm guessing, of course.

Heavy sigh.

Now this is a real disappointment. I am seriously bummed now.

Captain Britain and MI-13 has been cancelled.

Dang it.

What I Want: The August 09 Marvel Solicitations

THE MARVELS PROJECT #1 (of 8)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
The centerpiece of Marvel's 70th Anniversary celebration! Who is the mysterious old man who lies on his deathbed in a hospital in 1939, and how does his passing mark the beginning of the first heroic age of the Marvel Universe — and signal the rise of the superhumans? Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting unveil the defining story of the origin of the Marvel Universe, revealing the hidden connections that unite the earliest costumed champions, and whose reverberations are felt dramatically into the present day! It’s a world on the brink of war, and the race is on to create the world's first super-soldier! Witness the first days of the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and many more-- how they shaped the world to come, and how the future they would create in turn shaped them! The must-read event of the season for any Marvel fan from the Award-Winning creators who redefined Captain America for the modern audience!
ALL WINNERS COMICS #1 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Captain America and Bucky...the Human Torch and Toro...the Sub-Mariner...Miss America...the Whizzer...THE ALL-WINNERS SQUAD! It's 1946 and World War 2 is over, but the memory of those lost in the War haunts everyone— especially when Times Square is overrun by undead soldiers wanting their lives back! And leading this tattered battalion are the two casualties the All-Winners Squad can't fight— the original Captain America and Bucky! Plus: a surprise romance that has all the tabloids a-twitter! "Old Soldiers Never Die..." by Karl Kesel (MARVEL APES) and Steve Uy (AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE) Buy Bonds! And this comic!
MYSTIC COMICS #1 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
“I am the destroyer of evil,” the haunting stranger intoned; “I’ve crossed the great cold into your world!” So speaks the original Vision! From a dimension beyond, comes an otherworldly force of retribution. His steely touch turns killers to ice, shattering them. His staggering gaze drives the guilty mad with terror. His unstoppable power never fails to punish the wicked! It is said only those approaching death can see him in his true form as...the Vision!
MARVEL COMICS #1: 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Marvel Comics in style the best and brightest color-art talents in the field bring you a bold new look at the comic that started it all! From the first appearance of The Human Torch to the original jungle adventures of Ka-Zar and the incomparable introduction of Bill Everett’s Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, each tale from Marvel Comics #1 has been paired with one of the field’s most innovative color artists to create a fascinating contemporary take on these classic tales. Including contributions from the trend-setting talents of Dean White (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN; LOGAN), Dave McCaig (NEW AVENGERS; NEXTWAVE), Jason Keith (MIGHTY AVENGERS; SHANNA THE SHE-DEVIL), Morry Hollowell (CIVIL WAR; WOLVERINE) and Frank D’Armata (CAPTAIN AMERICA; HOUSE OF M), there’s no question that this will be MARVEL COMICS #1 like you’ve never seen it before! So come join the party—including Marvel’s mega-midnight birthday bash—and toast to the most important comic art achievement of 1939—2009-style!

What are you trying to do to me, Marvel? Don't I already give you enough of my money?


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601
Prepare for the All-New, All-Deadly: DARK MARY-JANE!! Oops, sorry, that's the rest of Marvel's solicits...Actually, in this issue "Red-Headed Stranger" begins just after the surprising events of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 with Pete's love life taking a turn for the worse just as his old flame Mary Jane returns to New York City. (FINALLY!! Sheesh. What took us so long?!)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #602
"RED-HEADED STRANGER Part II"
THE CHAMELEON returns with a terrifying new mission that has MAYOR J. JONAH JAMESON squarely in his sights! Meanwhile, the ANTI-SPIDER SQUAD narrows its dragnet around the Wall-Crawler, and Peter Parker gets a brand new job...will it bring him closer to the newly-returned MARY JANE, or push her further away?
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603
"RED-HEADED STRANGER Part III"
THE CHAMELEON is poised to unleash unspeakable horror on New York City and SPIDER-MAN is nowhere to be found, so the only person who can stop him is...MARY JANE WATSON?!

For the fourteen-year-old.


DARK AVENGERS #8
Norman's X-Men, as led by Emma and Namor, are the face of mutant law and order! The X-Men look played out of position as Osborn's dark reign falls over California-- but Scott Summers isn't done yet. The X-Men strike at Norman, at H.A.M.M.E.R., at his fraud X-Men and his sham Avengers all at once! This is the book where, at long last, the Marvel Universe starts to fight back-- and it sets the stage for next month’s unbelievable conclusion in UNCANNY X-MEN/DARK AVENGERS - EXODUS!

This is a maybe, due to the X-Men crossover. X-Men crossovers leave a bad taste in my mouth. It was the 90s, but I've got a long memory.


MS. MARVEL #43 & 44
In Ms. Marvel #43: Karla Sofen's bad day gets worse as the summer's blockbuster Dark Reign event continues. WAR OF THE MARVELS Part 2 brings the Dark Avengers to the front lines.
In Ms. Marvel #44: Hope is crushed and the battle is nearly lost as the Dark Reign event continues in WAR OF THE MARVELS Part 3! As Karla Sofen faces an unbeatable threat, the legacy of Ms. Marvel hangs in the balance.

"War of the Marvels"? What is this "War of the Marvels"? Guess I've been skimming the comic news and missed something.


NEW AVENGERS #56
Oh man, it is not a good day for the New Avengers. Someone has invented a power disrupter and unleashed it in New York City. The heroes have fallen. Some are hurt bad, others near death. Who will rise to the challenge and save the day? A very important DARK REIGN issue. Something big happens. Not going to tell you what it is but it happens on page 17, panel 4.

I don't need convincing to get this one anyway.


AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #27
Blastaar's alien army has seized 42, the Initiative's prison in the Negative Zone. Someone has to take it back, and the Taskmaster has assembled a team to do just that. But when Komodo looks around her at the squad of Z-list super-villains she's supposed to go into battle with, she wonders if this is a recovery job...or a suicide mission! And when she encounters familiar faces who had been incarcerated within the prison, will they be friend or foe? Also, because you demanded it--the return of Butterball!

Cool!


FANTASTIC FOUR #570
Brand new creative team - Brave new comics experience! Be there as Marvel's newest exciting creator, Jonathan Hickman, teams up with superstar artist, Dale Eaglesham, to give you the Fantastic Four experience you've been waiting for! It's adventure, it's family, it's tough questions in dark times...See what happens when Reed Richards tries to SOLVE EVERYTHING.

Hm...new creative team...maybe it's time to pick this up again after all?


MARVEL DIVAS 2

Waiting for the trade, I think, if that.


MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS #39
TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS: Aleksei Sytsevich just wants to retire. The economy is bad, and freelance jobs are harder to find. Business just isn’t what it used to be. It’s time to hang up the suit and live the good life. Of course, when the “business” is super-villain crime sprees as the Rhino, and the “suit” in question is his costume, the Rhino is finding it a bit harder to close the books on his “career.” Luckily, the Avengers are more than glad to help an old foe get out of the game, even if it means dealing with a little bit of trouble. Or, in this case, a LOT of trouble, because the Abomination and the Leader aren’t going to let their old teammate step away from the game quite that easily!

For the ten-year-old.


MIGHTY AVENGERS #28
"WITCH-HUNT"
Guest-starring the YOUNG AVENGERS!
When the adults are away, it's the perfect time for VISION and STATURE to sneak a few friends into the Avengers new headquarters and throw a party. No, not that kind of party. It's a hunting party-- and the target they're after is...THE SCARLET WITCH!
Also: QUICKSILVER and US AGENT face off against a longtime Avengers villain and their new team. All this and the start of a strange cosmic odyssey for HANK PYM.

This one sounds good, hoping for more Young Avengers sightings!


DEADPOOL #13 & #14
“Wave of Mutilation,” Part 1 & 2
Deadpool has ceased to exist, he’s given his good-byes, he’s driven his car into the ocean. They’ll think he’s dead, but he’ll sail away. Then, he becomes a pirate!

Sounds like something the ten-year-old would come up with, also sounds good. :)

Think I'll get the Deadpool minis as trades.

What I Want: The August 09 DC Solicitations

BLACKEST NIGHT #2
The event of the summer continues! The dead rise across the DC Universe, bringing terror and darkness with them. What are the Black Lanterns? What do they want? Will Earth's greatest heroes survive long enough to find out – or will they join the Black Lantern Corps?

Still looking forward to this, although with more trepidation than before.


BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #1
Deadman can't shut out the cries of the dead rising as he comes to the aid of the new Batman. It’s just in time, too, as the duo face a circus of zombies including the Black Lantern Flying Graysons!

So I guess this is confirmation of the identity of the new Batman? I mean, who else would care about the Flying Graysons?


BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #1
Black Lantern Titans are descending together onto Titans Island! Will the Titans be prepared to fight off their deceased allies? And how can Beast Boy not lose his heart to Black Lantern Terra?

Yeah, okay, fine, I'm buying this too. Geez.



GREEN LANTERN #45
BLACKEST NIGHT continues! The Black Lanterns descend on all the Corps throughout the universe! Sinestro's assault on the Star Sapphires’ homeworld of Zamaron is interrupted by another Sinestro Corps – one made up of those who died during the Sinestro Corps War! And while the War of Light flickers, deep in the darkness of space, John Stewart comes face-to-face with his deceased wife – and longtime Green Lantern – Katma Tui.

Okay, time to pick up the regular GL book.


GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39
Just when things couldn't look any darker after the death and chaos of the Sciencell riot, Blackest Night descends on Oa! The black rings tear into the planet and the Lantern Crypt causing all the dead Corps members to rise and wreak havoc as a new and deadlier battle threatens to engulf not only the Corps, but the Universe itself!

And this one is always on my list.


WEDNESDAY COMICS #5-8
WEDNESDAY COMICS, DC’s spectacular 12-issue weekly series, continues to offer a comics experience unlike any other this August. In its second month, don’t miss the action in these continuing features:
• THE METAL MEN encounter a deadly guest-villain in a story written by Dan DiDio with art by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.
• THE FLASH battles Gorilla Grodd and tries to date Iris West in a story written by Karl Kerschl (TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE, THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE) and Brenden Fletcher with art by Karl Kerschl.
• SUPERGIRL attempts to deal with Streaky and Krypto gone bad in a story written by Jimmy Palmiotti (JONAH HEX) with art by Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL).
• GREEN LANTERN must help a fellow test pilot whose space mission has transformed him into a monster in a story written by Kurt Busiek (TRINITY, ASTRO CITY) with art by Joe Quiñones (TEEN TITANS GO!).
• SUPERMAN questions his heroic mission while on a trip to Smallville in a story written by John Arcudi (The Mask) with art by Lee Bermejo (JOKER).
• ADAM STRANGE takes a truly twisted journey into space in a story by writer/artist Paul Pope (BATMAN: YEAR 100).
• WONDER WOMAN is lost in a dream world in search of her lost tiara, bracelets and magic lasso in a story written and illustrated by Ben Caldwell (Dare Detectives).
• THE TEEN TITANS are attacked by Trident in a story written by Eddie Berganza with art by Sean Galloway.
Plus:
• BATMAN, WEDNESDAY COMICS’ weekly cover feature, by the Eisner Award-winning 100 BULLETS team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso.
• METAMORPHO, written by New York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman with art by Eisner Award-winner Michael Allred (Madman).
• THE DEMON AND CATWOMAN, written by Walter Simonson (Thor, MANHUNTER) with art by famed DC cover artist Brian Stelfreeze.
• DEADMAN, written by Dave Bullock and Vinton Heuck, art by Dave Bullock.
• KAMANDI, written by Dave Gibbons (WATCHMEN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS) with art by Ryan Sook (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, ARKHAM ASYLUM: LIVING HELL).
• HAWKMAN, written and illustrated by Kyle Baker (PLASTIC MAN, Special Forces).
• SGT. ROCK, written by Adam Kubert (SUPERMAN: LAST SON), ilustrated by legendary comics artist Joe Kubert.

Wow, that is a lot of comic! And Streaky and Krypto? That's a must-have in any format!


BATGIRL #1
In the wake of “Batman R.I.P.” and BATTLE FOR THE COWL, a new heroine has emerged in Gotham City, and as she begins her nocturnal crusade to take back the night, she will truly learn what it means to wear the mantle of the Bat. But who is this young woman, and why has she donned the cape and cowl?

New heroine, hm?



BATMAN AND ROBIN #3
“Batman Reborn” concludes the explosive reteaming of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, WE3, New X-Men)! Witness Batman and Robin’s final showdown against Professor Pyg and the Circus of Strange! The future looks bright for the new Dynamic Duo as they prove themselves in battle, but lurking in the shadows is a mysterious red-hooded vigilante. Also, the origin of Scarlet!

This sounds potentially a good read.


DETECTIVE COMICS #856
“Elegy” part 3 of 4! Batwoman unites with an unlikely ally to momentarily defeat the fairytale villain known as Alice. But when Kate is forced to attend a high society event, she soon learns that her worlds are colliding as Alice’s plans for Gotham’s elite put Kate’s father directly in harm’s way.
Plus, in the next part of The Question co-feature, writer Greg Rucka and artist Cully Hamner bring Renee’s search for a missing girl to new depths when The Question is trapped inside a sinking car. Will her life and her leads end up at the bottom of the river?

Looking forward to this one a fair amount, actually.


BATMAN #689
“Long Shadows” continues! Batman forges ahead in his battle to retrieve the escapees from Arkham Asylum, while Two-Face begins a ground war of his own. Elsewhere, Penguin wants to become Gotham City's new king of crime, but to do so he has to make a deal with the devil.

You know, I think it would have been more fun to have several Batmen running around for a while. But okay.


BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #3
Bruce Wayne is dead...long live Bruce Wayne! Gotham's favorite son has miraculously returned, promising to lead his city into a new golden age. But while Wayne devotes his limitless fortune to rebuilding Gotham City, he fights violent opposition from Batman, Robin and a host of DC Universe heroes!
And in the Manhunter co-feature, now that Manhunter has found the previous DA's killer – or, rather, the killer has found her – what is she going to do about it? Bringing the killer in for a trial may not result in the justice Kate's been dreaming of. But is she ready to kill for justice so soon after a fresh start in Gotham?

Maybe I will learn to love Manhunter now?


GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #3
With their uneasy alliance in place, the sirens encounter trouble in the form of the mysteriously returned Bruce Wayne. He's dazzling, he's dangerous and he's got his sights set on Harley Quinn! Has romance sparked between these two long-time enemies – or is Wayne playing a more sinister game?

Well, I can guess at who the Bruce Wayne is, but we'll see.


RED ROBIN #3
“The Grail” part 3 of 4! “Batman Reborn” continues, but is Red Robin's quest to find Bruce Wayne at an end? Because in a German museum, answers await. But to get to those answers, Red Robin has to go through the Global Guardian known as the Wild Huntsman. Making matters worse, Red Robin's got an unwanted ally – Ra's al Ghul! Also, discover what happened in the days after BATTLE FOR THE COWL?

Well, I am getting this, but to be honest, if it is (as seems likely) Tim Drake, I'm probably not keeping it on the list.


DOOM PATROL #1
Come one, come all! The world's strangest Super Heroes are back, and they brought those robot guys along with 'em! Thrill to the strange adventures of the Doom Patrol, with script by Keith Giffen and art by Matthew Clark! Whether you think you know 'em or you wouldn't know 'em if they bit you on the behind, this Doom Patrol's for you! But that's not all! Read all the way to the back cover for the all-new adventures of those elemental everymen, the Metal Men, featuring the triumphant return of the creative team that brought you JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL! That’s 40 full pages of comic-bookery for just under four American dollars. So why not try some Doom Patrol with a side order of Metal Men today?

Doom Patrol, woohoo!


JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #30
“Bad Seed” part 2 of 5! The JSA feels the strain when battling a monstrous collection of villains who’ve mounted an all-out war on the team to collect a bounty placed on the head of everyone in the group except Stargirl! Tensions flare, and the group is forced to make a compromise in order to chase their fleeing enemies or return to the mansion to find out why Mister Terrific’s communications have suddenly stopped! And Dr. Fate returns to the team in this second issue from the new creative team of writers Bill Willingham (FABLES) and Matthew Sturges (BLUE BEETLE) and artist Jesus Merino (SUPERMAN ANNUAL)!

Still getting this.

Think I'm going to get the new Justice League in trade form after all, since it turns out it's a mini.


POWER GIRL #4
“Space Girls Gone Wild!” part 1 of 2! A trio of sexy alien marauders hits Earth for the ultimate party. Unfortunately, by their standards, that means destroying it! Of course, it’s up to Power Girl to crash their festivities.

Hopeful on this title.


SECRET SIX #12
A crisis of conscience splits the Secret Six right down the middle and puts them on opposite sides of a horrific war involving Amazons led by a deluded Artemis! But that's just the opening bout for the main event: Jeannette vs. Wonder Woman!

Sounds fun, as always.


TITANS #16
Why has Starfire been acting odd the past few issues? Turns out the warrior woman has major rage issues coming out of her recent breakup with Dick Grayson, the events of FINAL CRISIS and more. Her super-powerful emotions could very well rip the team apart!

I thought Dick and Starfire technically broke up some time ago? Like, long before this series?


WONDER WOMAN #35
“Birds of Paradise” part 2 of 2! A gaggle of super-powered cage fighters find themselves in the worst possible place to be – on the bad side of Wonder Woman and Black Canary! Also, find out the final resolution between Diana and Nemesis along with much, much more!


JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES

Four second-generation Justice Society of America heroes are grouped together to make up the second series of action figures based on the art of Alex Ross!

Just as Geoff Johns’ “Thy Kingdom Come” story arc has brought the Kingdom Come Superman into current continuity, this series of action figures also features a fully articulated, original sculpt of the character.

Figures included:
Cyclone • 8.25” h
Stargirl • 6.5” h

Eeee! Cyclone and Stargirl action figures! Eeeee!

As in, Must Have These Items.

A moment of weakness

I'm thinking of picking up Fantastic Four again! (Or at least getting the trades.) Quick, someone tell me why that's a bad idea! (Or, you know, why it's a good idea, if you feel like being an enabler... :))

As we enter the home stretch

I read the preview of Trinity 51.

Very big, very cosmic.

Not a fan of big or cosmic, particularly. Perhaps I won't have to get the trades, after all.

Really nice Wonder Woman cover, though. Seriously nice.

Why I buy

There are two reasons I buy comic books.

One is because I want to see what happens because, well, I want to see what happens. I'm directly interested in a particular storyline. This category includes pretty much all of the ongoings I get.

The other is because I want to see how what happens affects other titles I follow more actively. This category includes crossover titles (for example, buying Thunderbolts because there's a shared storyline between that book and Deadpool), guest appearances (for example, picking up an issue of Wolverine because the Winter Soldier was in it), and more event titles than ought to be the case. There's a relatively short attention span associated with this category. I started getting Trinity for this reason but when it didn't become something I bought on its own merits, I dropped it.

Now what you probably want, if you're a comic book company, is to get me to buy a category-2 comic (that I only buy as long as it references something else) and convince me that it's a category-1 comic (that I'll buy on its own merits). In the old days this was how I added quite a few books--I only ever started reading Captain America and Iron Man because I enjoyed them in Avengers. These days it's not so common, although Dark Avengers is working on attaining that status.

My wallet, of course, is happier when this does not happen.

Nothing to see here, just keep moving along

No blogging today, annoying children are annoying me.

Why can't they just read a comic book or something?

Angry cute overload

Okay, this is the first I've heard of this (been reading GLC but not GL), but this may well be my favorite new Lanterny character and I want an action figure!

Hello Red Lantern Kitty!

Seriously, could this be more awesome? He's wearing the ring on his tail, for gosh sake!

And there was much rejoicing

Whee! The preview is up for Cap 50! Looks good, looks REAL good!

Watching the Watchmen

The husband brought home a DVD of Watchmen: the Complete Motion Comic. It's an odd thing. All the narration is done by a single actor, who thus takes all parts, male and female, which is sometimes confusing.

However, if you want to read Watchmen without actually reading Watchmen, this is probably the way to go.

Money doesn't grow on trees, you know

I guess I'm late into the conversation on this subject, but I'm going to give Marvel Divas a try.

Because I have a fondness for some of the characters involved.

Not because it's anything like Sex in the City, a show I honestly never saw the appeal of.

It strikes me as the kind of thing you'd see in the second feature of an annual, not as the main focus of a comic, but we'll see.

Slow weekend

There's an article up at Comic Book Resources about the teenage Tony Stark Iron Man cartoon. Which is actually a watchable show.

It's getting so you could build up a pretty decent superhero cartoon library if you wanted to!

Happy Mother's Day!

There's an in-honor-of-Mother's-Day link up at Newsarama about the best and worst mothers in comic books.

I don't have a lot to say about the Best Mothers list. But the Worst?
Three of the mothers on the list--Catwoman, Black Canary, and the Scarlet Witch--are called bad mothers for reasons having nothing to do with their mothering skills. In fact, they're called bad mothers because--for a variety of reasons, none of which are any of their faults--they lost their children.

(And while the Alien Mom might not be our idea of a "good mom" but as far as her species goes she seems to have been exemplary! :))

And Martha Wayne? Seriously? Because she "never taught Bruce Wayne coping skills"? I think that young Bruce was probably better prepared than most kids his age would have been for dealing with seeing the violent death of both parents--at least he had Alfred, and didn't have to worry about money, living situation, and so forth. I really don't think you can blame Martha for not having long cozy talks with little Bruce about what do do "just in case Daddy and I are shot to death right in front of you."

Soon, soon...

I think the new comic I'm most looking forward to is Power Girl.

I thought it would be one of the Bat-books, but there's still enough mystery around those that I don't know which I'll be keeping and which I'll be dropping.

But Power Girl? Everyone loves Power Girl. Everyone here, anyway!

Teen Tony

I'm watching Iron Man: Armored Adventures at the moment. And you know...it's actually not bad.

I mean, considering it's sort of in the "Tiny Toons" tradition of taking adult characters and having them interact as younger versions of themselves.

There's Tony Stark, Rhodey, and Pepper, all teenagers going to the same school. In this universe, Rhodey knows about Tony and the Iron Man armor. Pepper doesn't, and is (apparently) the stereotypical annoying nosy female, which is less than optimal, but whatever.

So now I'm wondering whether it's worth looking at either of the Iron Man comics again. You know, in trade form. I always did like Iron Man and was kind of sad to quit it. Is it time to try again?

Thank goodness for comic books and their offshoots

The ten-year-old is still home sick, but feeling well enough today to turn on the PS2 and play some Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

We've played so much Marvel Ultimate Alliance in this house. I hope the next one is as good.

The cartoon landscape is bleak

Sick kid home today, so no real post.

Now's when I wish we had superhero cartoons on DVD. We don't. There's only so much "Fairly Oddparents" you can take, you know?

At least she's happy about it.

There is a teaser up at DC about the new Batgirl title.

And there is the expected discussion about who this person might be.

Going by the picture, all I can say is...

...doesn't Power Girl have her own comic coming out already?

I'm just saying, that is a Mature Figure in that picture. :)

Another comic book movie I'm not particularly interested in seeing

Wolverine.

Unless I hear there's a decent treatment of Deadpool, then I may reconsider.

Well, I'm happy about it

The PS2 has been languishing for a few weeks, and the husband fixed it today.

And that means...

...Lego Batman!

(Later. But possible now!)

Blast from someone else's past

We occasionally watch the old X-Men cartoons on television. I think they were made in the 90s; at least, they seem very 90s in terms of costuming, hair, etc. I wasn't watching a lot of cartoons in the 90s so I'm not certain. They're not that bad, although I wouldn't really go out of my way to watch them because I'm not much of an X-fan these days, but if the kids want to watch them, they hold my interest well enough.

We also occasionally watch the 90s-era Iron Man cartoon. That one is, well, kind of painful.

It's that time of year already

So I see on the internet that Free Comic Book Day is coming up soon.

We don't have a local comic shop to visit on this occasion; however, last year we changed comic book providers, and the new place includes Free Comic Book Day comics in with our regular shipments, which is very nice.

So I'm looking forward to seeing what new things I wouldn't see otherwise are there.

It's the way the fourteen-year-old discovered Atomic Robo, after all, and we've gotten both trades since then (and plan to get any more as they're available--great book!) so I guess they made a little money off of this thing. :)

Inquiring minds

I was looking at an article on the new Wolverine movie, which I'm still not planning to see, but was curious about Deadpool's appearance in it. Not a lot of information, unsurprisingly, but it said that the actor playing Deadpool would be playing both pre-Deadpool Wade and the "creature" he becomes.

So now I'm wondering what the heck they're planning to do with Deadpool.

Creature?

Hmph.

Okay.

So maybe Moonstone is a readable character on her own.

I'm willing to admit it when my preconceptions are challenged.

Why I (don't) buy, and why I (don't) know

I was reading an article at Newsarama about folks dropping comics because they're getting too darn expensive.

And I thought to myself that I hadn't done that. Likely because I don't buy nearly as many comics as some other folks in the first place, but still, I hadn't had to do that yet.

Except...

...I have dropped a number of books in recent years, including some that I'd have expected to buy forever and ever (like Fantastic Four). Those were not economically-based decisions--I mean, I didn't drop them because they cost too much, I bought them because I wasn't enjoying them as much as I used to.

But there was a time when I'd have ridden out dull periods for a lot longer. Maybe indefinitely.

I don't know how much of an economic component there is to those choices. It could be solely a lack of patience, although in general I'd say that I've grown more patient as I've gotten older, not less. But it could also be that, in the back of my mind, I'm less willing to keep buying something that isn't so much fun anymore.

You know you're a comic book geek when...

...you see on the news that Bea Arthur is dead...

...and your first thought is "Aww, Deapool is going to be heartbroken!"

I am past being tired of Dark Reign

I know this because I just read an 11-page preview of Dark Reign: The Cabal that gave me no desire whatsoever to purchase this series.

Even with the pretty Namor pictures, I still don't want it, and that's a pretty impressive lack of wanting.

I wonder about these things.

I was watching some old Captain America cartoons from the 60s the other day. I didn't see them the first time around, although I guess I was a kid at that time so I could have.

What I noticed immediately was that the stories were pretty much taken directly from the contemporary Avengers comics. I'm told that there never was an Avengers cartoon, which explains why their stories ended up in Cap's cartoon. But wasn't there a Captain America comic running at the same time? IIRC he shared a title with Iron Man in the early 60s--wouldn't that have been a better choice for story mining?

Reading the previews (Spoilers for JLA 32 due to the preview thing)

So I'm looking at the preview of JLA #32, and there are a couple of things I noted whiel reading it.

First, what the hell, Black Canary? First she says she's "not that petty" and two or three panels later she's...well, petty.

Second, the Roll Call says that Red Arrow is "On Leave." Not sure whether that means he's maybe coming back, but that'd be okay (I mean, to have him be somewhere other than Titans).

Third, the first thing I liked about Dr. Light (the heroic one) was her crankiness. Glad to see that's still in play.

Apart from the questionable Dinah aspect, this looks pretty interesting. Still going to wait for the trade, but will certainly be picking it up if this continues.

What I Want: The July 09 Marvel Solicitations

REBORN #1 (of 5)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by BRYAN HITCH
Solicit to be revealed soon

I'm kinda guessing that I might want this.


ALL SELECT COMICS #1 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Meet Blonde Phantom – she’s gorgeous, quick-witted, and hard-boiled. There was never a case that wasn’t open-and-shut for this gun-toting, two-fisted knockout of a P.I. But has she still got what it takes to bust a mystery wide open in the modern Marvel Universe? Marc Guggenheim (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) and Javier Pulido (CAPTAIN AMERICA 65TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL) turn the classic Blonde Phantom into Marvel’s newest hero! AND MORE! Writer/artist Michael Kupperman (Tales Designed to Thrizzle) takes on Marvex, the Super-Robot, in a hilarious bonus special feature!!

Yay Blonde Phantom!


DARK AVENGERS #7
"UTOPIA: CHAPTER 3"
The DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN crossover continues!
San Francisco teeters on the brink of absolute chaos and the X-Men keep getting in the way of Norman's vision of law and order. So Norman takes his game to the next level: who are the DARK X-MEN? And will Norman's Avengers play nice with Norman's X-Men? Here's a hint: no.

Hm. Well, I'm kinda liking the Dark Avengers but it's not a favorite. On the other hand I have little to no interest in the Dark X-Men. So does a crossover this early on mean that I'm going to give up on Dark Avengers? It's a possibility!


NEW AVENGERS #55
Ultimate Spider-Man artist Stuart Immonen rejoins series regular Brian Bendis for this all-new blockbuster Avengers story. One of the Hood's gang has found a way to power drain the New Avengers and it turns the tides of the Dark Reign in ways no one would have expected it. Plus the new Sorcerer Supreme has a lot to learn, and they're going to learn it from...Spider-Man?

My interest in any new Sorcerer Supreme will depend entirely on who it is, because conceptually it holds no appeal for me.


DEADPOOL #12
“BULLSEYE,” Part 3
As the chaos and wanton destruction of their continued battle reaches critical mass, both Deadpool and Bullseye come to the same realization: They don’t want this to end!

I think I've figured out why I like Deadpool so much: even if it's not a very good comic, it still has Deadpool!


MS. MARVEL #41 & 42
In MS MARVEL #41, not only does new Ms. Marvel Karla Sofen have to deal with Deadpool, now she's got the New Avengers coming at her in full force. Prelude to this summer's epic WAR OF THE MARVELS!
Then in MS. MARVEL #42, WAR OF THE MARVELS begins here! Karla Sofen battles for her life in the streets of Los Angeles as an exciting new chapter in the history of Ms. Marvel begins! Guest starring the New Avengers and...someone we can't tell you about!

Oooh, more Deadpool!


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #599
AMERICAN SON CONCLUDES! It’s the ultimate battle between friend and family as Spidey’s battle against the Iron Patriot and his Dark Avengers leaves one man with a choice too painful to contemplate. Plus, with wedding plans at high-fervor, Pete’s identity stands revealed to the person who stands to be most changed by the information.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600
The greatest Marvel super hero of all celebrates his 600th issue with the biggest all-original issue of Amazing Spider-Man EVER! This one’s got it all! The return of Doctor Octopus, Daredevil, a wedding you never predicted, and the return of one of the most important people in Peter Parker’s life in a giant-sized lead story by Dan Slott and John Romita Jr. Doc’s back in town, but it’s only a prelude to darker days ahead as Spidey unknowingly prepares for a gauntlet he can’t even see coming.
On top of all that, witness the return of one of Spider-man’s creators, Smilin’ Stan Lee (along with Masticatin’ Marcos Martin) as he presents a story of unbridled passion, drama and angst as Spidey reflects over his many, many years of adventures.
But that ain’t all...as the rest of the Spidey Web-Heads bring you several short features showcasing some rarely explored aspects of both Spidey and Pete’s life, drawn by some of the greatest artists in comics. Plus, several other surprises and NO REPRINTS! 104 pages of goodness brought to you by some of the best creators that have ever worked on Spidey!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #36
As Peter Parker prepares for the 2nd most important wedding day of his life, a new enemy brutally rises up from Spidey’s past. Plus the introduction of some brand new family members promises to make this a wedding that he wishes never happened!

For the fourteen-year-old.


AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #26
A shocking new era begins for the Initiative! Where Camp Hammond once trained future Avengers, Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. now trains tomorrow's Dark Avengers! Under orders from Norman Osborn, your new Principals are Taskmaster and the criminal kingpin, the Hood. They’re registering villains as heroes and spreading Norman’s empire across the nation with such specialized classes as How to Fake Being Champions While Fleecing the Citizens You’re Supposed to Protect! But the heroes who once made up the Initiative aren't about to let this happen. Hunted by the law, hidden from sight, a resistance movement has formed...and they're out to stop a Dark Reign from falling over the Fifty State Initiative...by any means necessary!

Everyone still seems to like this one.


CAPTAIN AMERICA #601
A special double-sized issue featuring art by the legendary Gene Colan! Bucky and Nick Fury uncover a lost tale from Cap and Bucky's days in WW2 - a tale of horror and war and brothers-in-arms.

Of course. And this answers my question about issue numbering, I guess.


CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 #15
“VAMPIRE STATE”
The final battle with Dracula is here! Can what’s left of MI13 possibly defeat the most brilliant military strategist alive (or at least undead)? Who is Gloriana and what role does Dr. Doom play in this whole thing? Do not miss this cataclysmic conclusion! Part 6 (of 6)

The vampire thing has been better than expected, but I'm still glad to see they're not dragging it out too much.


MIGHTY AVENGERS #27
Doom, Thor, Black Bolt, Black Panther, Ka-Zar, Namor...There are many monarchs in the Marvel Universe, but only one so powerful and so reviled that he had to be written out of history. He is THE UNSPOKEN. And his return will have dire consequences on both our world and worlds beyond.
The start of a new storyline that will bring dishonor for one Mighty Avenger, redemption for another, a family reunion, and ties to both DARK REIGN and WAR OF KINGS.

Sounds all right. I know what "family reunion" I'd like to see but won't get my hopes up.


MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS #38
Ms. Isaacson's third grade class has about the coolest homework assignment in the world! They've won a contest to hang out with the Avengers for a day, and whether that means learning to rock climb with Spider-Man, or heading to the petting zoo with the Hulk, or having Storm teach them all about meteorology, it's going to be a great day! All except for how the Avengers get kidnapped by the Mandarin as a part of his bid to take over the world by harnessing the Avenger's individual powers into an unstoppable super robot while the kids are guarded by about the hungriest looking dragon in existence. Okay, that part reeks. And what part does Ant-Man play? Hint: it involves ants.

This one looks cute. :) Of course it's for the ten-year-old.



RUNAWAYS #12
“Home-Schooling”
One has fallen. The life they’ve built is coming apart at the seams. Can the kids hold themselves together and make it through this? Who is Hunter Stein and what is in the mystery box that he’s after? Part 2 (of 4).

For the fourteen-year-old.




Incidentally, I'm pretty sure that not buying the Dark Reign books is saving me a considerable sum, so there's that.

Also, getting Marvel Divas as a trade (maybe). That and the Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth thing (definitely!)

What I Want: The July 09 DC Solicitations

BLACKEST NIGHT #1
Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis raise the dead in the most anticipated comics story of the year! Throughout the decades, death has plagued the DC Universe and taken the lives of heroes and villains alike. But to what end? As the War of Light rages on, the prophecy of the Blackest Night descends upon us, with Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps at the center of it all.

This is one I've been waiting for.


GREEN LANTERN CORPS #38
“Emerald Eclipse” hits its shocking conclusion leading directly into BLACKEST NIGHT. The sciencell riot causes a new law to be doctored into the Book of Oa as Kyle and Guy fight against it. What fate awaits the honor guards, and who will be left standing from the riot that shook Oa to its core?

And this one I like regardless.


WEDNESDAY COMICS #1-4
In July, DC Comics gives a fresh twist to a grand comics tradition with WEDNESDAY COMICS, a new, weekly 12-issue series by some of the greatest names in comics today! WEDNESDAY COMICS is unique in modern comics history: Reinventing the classic weekly newspaper comics section, it is a 16-page weekly that unfolds to a sprawling 28” x 20” tabloid-sized reading experience bursting with mind-blowing color, action and excitement, with each feature on its own 14” x 20” page.

I do want to see what this is like, although I'm not sure whether I'm going to pick it up for the long run.


BATMAN AND ROBIN #2
“Batman Reborn” continues with the reteaming of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, WE3, New X-Men)! In a blazing Gotham City police department, the new Batman and Robin face the bizarre, fighting freakshow that is the Circus of Strange and find that they don’t make as good a team as Batman had hoped! Meanwhile, the mysterious Sasha escapes from Professor Pyg and vows vengeance on the people who killed her father.

Again, not sure how long I'm keeping this one but I'm going to give it a try.


BATMAN #688
There may be a new Batman in Gotham City, but that doesn’t mean the city wants him. As Two-Face and Penguin take measures to keep the new Dark Knight at bay, one of the archvillains makes a startling discovery about the new Caped Crusader. Plus, Batman trains the new Robin, and Mark Bagley starts a 4-issue stint as guest artist!

And again, we'll see.


BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #2
In this second issue by the dynamic duo of Paul Dini (DETECTIVE COMICS) and Dustin Nguyen (BATMAN), Commissioner Gordon teams with the new Batman to combat the fiery threat that Firefly has spread across Gotham City. And to make matters worse, the mysterious adversary known only as Abuse makes his presence felt! Meanwhile, in the Manhunter co-feature, now that Kate Spencer is the new District Attorney of Gotham City, will she use her legal power or her Super Hero identity to find the killer of the previous D.A.?

DETECTIVE COMICS #855
“Elegy” part 2 of 4 by Greg Rucka and JH Williams III! Batwoman captures her enemy, a madwoman known only as Alice who sees her life as a fairy tale and everyone around her as expendable extras – including Kate! But when the tables are turned, Batwoman finds herself in a hallucination slamming the present into a collision with the past, and the hints of a threat that will claim the lives of every man, woman and child in Gotham City.And in the all-new co-feature starring the Question, Montoya's quest to find a missing young girl turns deadly.

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #2
Tommy Elliott, a.k.a. the villainous mastermind known as Hush, has escaped the confines of Batman’s headquarters and is wreaking havoc throughout Gotham City all under the guise of Bruce Wayne. Will the loose assemblage of Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn be enough to stop the madman’s rampage? Or are Gotham’s femmes fatales doomed to fail before they even begin?

Now, these three I plan to be in for the long run on.


RED ROBIN #2
Red Robin continues scouring the world, searching for clues to Bruce Wayne's final fate in this new series from writer Chris Yost (New X-Men, X-Force) and artist Ramon Bachs (Civil War: Front Line)! But now he's been targeted by the League of Assassins. What does Ra's al Ghul want with Red Robin? Why are members of the League of Assassins being targeted for death? And what happened to the life Red Robin left behind? Spoiler guest-stars as "Batman Reborn" continues here in “The Grail” part 2 of 4.

Well, a guest-star spot by Spoiler does kind of indicate a Red Robin who's Tim.


JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #1
What brings a team together? Justice! Batman and Martian Manhunter have been slaughtered. But he’s not the only hero to fall at the hands of villains. The murder has to stop, and it’s time to take the fight to the bad guys! Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Supergirl, Atom, Shazam, Congorilla and Starman unite in a cry for justice! This 6-part miniseries from James Robinson (STARMAN, SUPERMAN) and rising star artist Mauro Cascioli (TRIALS OF SHAZAM) pushes our heroes to the brink and beyond as evil can no longer be tolerated to win. But when Prometheus plans his revenge on not only the heroes, but on the very places they call home, will this new team be ready to pay the cost for the justice they seek? This time it’s personal – and it’ll only get more bloody before it’s over!

Well, six issues isn't an ongoing but it's something.


JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #29
A new era begins for the Justice Society of America as writers Bill Willingham (FABLES) and Matthew Sturges (BLUE BEETLE) take over the series with new artist Jesus Merino (SUPERMAN ANNUAL) just as two new recruits make their debut with the team! Strange happenings at the JSA Mansion are weird precursors to an all-out attack on all members of the team — all but one! And what is the strange connection that new members King Chimera and All-American Kid might have with the turmoil?

Still have my fingers crossed that the quality we've grown accustomed to from this title will continue.


POWER GIRL #3
It’s the striking conclusion of the first arc from the fan-favorite writing team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray (JONAH HEX, TERRA) and artist Amanda Conner (JSA CLASSIFIED, TERRA)! Power Girl battles Ultra-Humanite! And things get ugly as the two powerful beings come to blows!

I do hope this title does well.


SECRET SIX #11
A former Wonder Woman is now a slave? That's just the first shock as the Secret Six face a new enemy with a heart of ice and an entire country at his command! All this plus the return of Mockingbird! It's all heading towards a confrontation against one of DC's biggest powerhouses, and the Six don't stand a chance...

First DC book I read every month.


TITANS #15
Prelude to BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS! Tempest returns! And how will his arrival affect the Titans? The last page not only answers this question, but will have fans buzzing.

More Blackest Night? You know, I think I like the crossovers, GL and otherwise, when they're limited to a few titles. However, I do see how this one would spread.


WONDER WOMAN #34
“Birds of Paradise” part 1 of 2! After the status-shattering events of WONDER WOMAN #33, the world's most sensational team reunites, as Wonder Woman and Black Canary go undercover among some of the worst villains of the DC universe! It's gonna be a bad day for some bad men when the two toughest women in comics join forces!

This sounds like fun!




METAL MEN TP
DC's metallic heroes return in this trade paperback collecting the 8-issue miniseries! Gold, Platina, Mercury, Iron, Lead, Tin and Copper must face off the forces of Chemo, Doctor Yes, BOLTS, The Balloonatic and his Orphan Army, as well as the Robot Renegades in this action-packed volume!

Yes, please!


SCOOBY-DOO #146
Come celebrate with Scooby and the gang, this Fourth of July! There’ll be sand, sailing and, of course, a monster made of fireworks. Well, two out of three ain’t bad.

For the ten-year-old.

Nice picture, but...

So if there was any question as to who is the bestest, most importantest Green Lantern of them all...

this would answer that question.

They are toys, after all

So this afternoon I was sitting around, complaining that I couldn't think of anything to blog about, and the husband said "Why don't you tell them what the kids have been up to?"

So I will.

Spring has kindasorta arrived, in that it was nice out yesterday. (Today it's mid-twenties and snow is predicted, but that's today. Yesterday was quite pleasant.) So the girls decided that the action figures needed an extreme sports day. They took two of the sturdiest (Baron Zemo and one of the far-too-may Wolverines we've got) outside and had them participate in the folliwing:

- Sailing (which is to say, sitting in plastic boats in a puddle of melted snow).
- Parachuting (made even more interesting when a strong gust of wind took Zemo over the roof).
- Bungee jumping (which I'm sure needs no explanation).

Both figures returned not only uninjured and intact but relatively free of mud, which quite frankly surprised the heck out of me.

Nothing to say today

It's the middle of the month, which means Comic Drought. I've already read all of last month's box, and next month's box is weeks away.

That means that a couple of things happen. First, I have less to say about comics, because I have no new comics in hand.

Second, I have more to say about comics but don't necessarily say it because I'm not fully informed; this is because I'm often reluctant (believe it or not) to comment on things I've only read about online.

What I am willing to say today, though, is that it's way too long until BFTC 3 comes out. I am edge-of-the-seat about that one.

Yeah, it's another letter

Dear Those in Charge of Green Lantern,

Please remember, in crafting the much-anticipated (certainly it's the event of the season as far as I'm concerned) Blackest Night, that the coolness of the Green Lanterns is that there are so many of them. I think it's unlikely that you'll forget this, since there are now multiple color Corps (an idea I'm enjoying a lot).

However, keep in mind that not all of us Lantern fans are there because of Hal. Some of us focus more on Guy, or John, or Kyle. Some of us even like the Lanterns who've never set foot on Earth (Natu, Yat, etc.).

Please work on making sure there's something on the table for everyone, and I'll work my developing my Hal appreciation.

Love, Me

And while I'm feeling communicative

Dear Marvel,

I can't believe I'm saying this, but...do we really need four Avengers-related titles?

If this keeps up I'm going to have to do some thinking about what I'm buying, and you really don't want that.

Love, Me

P.S. You've actually managed to make me a little bit interested in Norman Osborn, so obviously you can work miracles when you want to.

Just wanted to get this off my chest

Dear DC,

You might want to consider having some of your writers--the ones who deal with the same characters in different books--talk to each other once in a while. You know, just to make sure that everyone is on the same page, and so that when three different people are writing the same guy, he's at least vaguely recognizable from one title to the other.

It would make for much happier (and less confused, and probably less argumentative) readers.

Love, Me.

Just to go on the record as hating this idea...

Over at Newsarama you can find this, "Is Marvel Introducing a New Bucky?" It's a nice pic of a girl (or petite woman) wearing a modified Bucky costume.

Now, the apparent likelihood is that this is someone called "Rikki Barnes" from something called "Heroes Reborn." (It apparently happened during my ten-year vacation from comics during the 90s, and I'm told I didn't miss much.)

However, the possibility is mentioned that it could be Natasha Romanov.

Even though it appears to be highly unlikely, I still have to utter a gasp of horror at that idea. Natasha is NOT anyone's sidekick. She has always been an independent agent. She's worked with others in the past--Hawkeye, Daredevil--but never, never, never in a secondary capacity. Always as an equal.

And if you're wearing the costume of Marvel's most famous sidekick, well, there's a strong sense there that you're not going to be the main character.

Because on April 14 we can all use a laugh

I am bogged down with taxes and not really thinking about comic books, so here's a link that made me laugh:

Alfred surprises Batman, and vice versa

I'm a strange one

I stopped getting Trinity about a month into the series. I have, however, been reading the previews. On the whole I don't see anything in them that makes me wish I'd kept getting it.

So why am I even considering picking up the trades when they come out?

This pleases me.

There's a neat little interview with Tom Brevfoort up at Newsarama where he talks about upcoming Captain America developments. Interesting stuff, but best of all...

there's going to be a little piece by Fred Hembeck in (I think he said) #50.

Which is so awesome. I always loved Hembeck.

(Guess I should pick up that Omnibus at some point.)

Looking forward to this even more now

There's a preview of the next Captain America up. It looks good.

And Sharon is back, which makes me happy.

Sometimes they get it right!

Oooh, look who's going to be doing the Metal Men backup feature in Doom Patrol!

J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen and Kevin Maguire.

You know, I was already looking forward to this, but now? Now I'll be counting the Wednesdays!

Sometimes a marketing campaign makes a direct hit

So Marvel is putting out a Pet Avengers book, which I thought was a cute idea for a kid book but hadn't planned on picking it up until the trade came out, maybe. And I guess that still stands.

But their current publicity thing for it? Where people can dress their pets up as Marvel characters and send in a photo?

This is, seriously, a campaign aimed directly at the ten-year-old audience.

I know this because I have a ten-year-old. And every single picture got an "Awwww, cute!" out of her.

Confused and disappointed

Wait, wait, wait.

So the additional Justice League book is a mini, not an ongoing series?

I was sure I remembered it having been talked about as a second ongoing.

Geez, if the Avengers can do it...

And the pull list expands again

I ordered the comics today, the ones we'll be getting in a few months. The Bat-titles are back on the list now: Batman, Detective, Batman and Robin, Red Robin, Gotham City Sirens, and Streets of Gotham. (Hope I got all those right, I'm not going to go check.) Will they stay on the list? I don't know. Depends, I suppose, on who ends up being who.

Going to be a long month

I honestly don't know how everyone isn't reading Secret Six when they keep putting out must-have previews like this one.

Seriously.

Some teaser!

So Marvel has a new teaser image up for Captain America. Looks something like this:



Well, I don't think there's a lot of mystery about this one. I'd say that the meaning is pretty obvious.

Clearly, Steve Rogers will return this summer in "Blackest Night."

:runs away:

There can be only one

So the kids and I watched Batman last night.

The best Batman movie of them all.

Of course I mean the 1960s version with Adam West.

Proof?

Not five minutes into the movie, you've got Batman, hanging from a helicopter, punching a shark.

He then uses his Bat-Shark-Repellent to free himself, whereupon the shark drops back into the water and immediately explodes.

Could Christian Bale pull that off? I think not.

Who shouldn't watch the Watchmen

I haven't seen Watchmen yet. It's likely that I'll wait until it comes out on DVD, not because of anything to do with the movie but because I just don't like movies in theaters. The husband often takes the kids to the theater to see comic-oriented movies when they come out, but obviously did not do so this time. (The fourteen-year-old has skimmed over our Watchmen trade, but of course it's off-limits to the ten-year-old.) I was a bit surprised when I read about parents bringing their young children to see it, but figured they were the same sort of parents who brought their five-year-olds to see the latest Saw.

But then I'm a comic fan. I've read Watchmen. I've read a lot of comics, and I wouldn't take my young kids to see Watchmen any more than I'd take them to see a film adaptation of Omaha the Cat Dancer.

Anyway. I have a friend, an excellent mother who tries hard to make good parenting choices for her kids, who was at the theater with her family. They were choosing a movie to see. She's not a comic book person at all, but looked at the various choices and sort of remembered that Watchmen looked interesting from the commercials. They'd seen comic book movies before. The R rating was a concern, but there are plenty of R-rated movies that are fine for kids, especially if their parents are with them, and she figured this would be one of those. Superheroes, right? Ordinarily she'd have done more research, but there they were at the theater and they had to pick something. Watchmen it was.

Long story short, it was not what she expected, and they left. She doesn't blame the theater or the movie company or anything, and she acknowledges that it was a bad call on her part. She's a good parent, one of the best I know, but in this instance she made the wrong decision. It happens to us all.

And now I'm wondering about all those other parents I've read about who brought their kids--the ones I assumed just didn't care. How many of them simply hadn't done the research? How many had assumed that since it was a superhero movie, it couldn't be that bad?

(I do find it interesting that so many people, parents and others, still think of comic books as a kids' genre when so few actual kids read them, at least compared with the number of teens and young adults who do.)

Things I want that I'll probably never get

So a few months ago I bought all the Outsiders' trades. (From the run with Nightwing and Arsenal and company.) Which I enjoyed a good deal. Then had to go online to figure out who was still around from that run, you know how it is.

And you know what I want?

A Grace Choi action figure.

(Would also like Thunder and Lightning action figures, and not just to annoy my Black Lightning action figure.)

Anyway, I would love it if one of those were made available. And with the obscure characters that DC Universe Classics seems to be putting out, I'm starting to think it's a possibility.

Only thing is...the body mold. Just about every female character they've done has had the same rather petite body. Except Wonder Woman, and she's still not really as muscular (and absolutely not as tall) as she ought to be. I'm assuming that the upcoming Barda figure uses that same body mold, will see when she arrives presumably.

Unfortunately, it kind of makes me reluctant to get the female figures from that line. Because a petite figure is a breakable figure. Skinny arms fall off much more easily than muscled ones.

Well, show me a Grace Choi figure and I will get it regardless. And I'll bitch like crazy if she's got the same body mold as Batgirl/Cass.

Just to be difficult (Spoilers for a preview of BFTC 2)

There is a preview up at IGN of Battle for the Cowl 2 that appears to make it clear (by means of those little POV boxes) that the murderous Batman is Jason Todd.

Now, I'm wondering about this. Obviously all I've read is the preview, and possibly the actual issue (which I won't have in my hands until the end of the month) may answer these concerns. But in any case...

First, I think everyone pretty much assumed that the gun-toting Batman from the teaser was Jason anyway. So there's the whole thing where a story leads you in one direction because it's the wrong direction, which makes me wonder whether this is misdirection.

Second, I'm not sure how BFTC relates time-wise to other books, but the last time we saw Jason he was using a cane and apparently had not yet recovered from being shot in the leg. Of course if more time has elapsed than I'm thinking, this isn't a consideration. But if it hasn't, this Batman doesn't seem to be limping or favoring a sore leg.

Finally, this may be a bit vague, but the voice just seems "off" if it's supposed to be Jason. For one thing, it's too formal. Jason's intelligent, but he's never used that sort of educated speech pattern--the word choices seem uncharacteristic and the grammar is rather precise, the speaker is humorless, and he uses almost no colloquialisms. "I didn't like being constrained by Batman's ideologies." Does that sound like Jason Todd? The speaker also seems fairly distanced from the situation, and while Jason is certainly capable of that, I'm not sure he'd be able to in this situation.

So, while I'd say it's apparent that we're supposed to think that this is Jason (and possibly Dick and Tim are also supposed to think that), there are signs that this may not actually be the case. Depending on the subtlety of the writing, of course.